AKIPRESS.COM - European Union leaders are to begin the second day of their summit in Brussels - but without the UK after it last week voted to leave the bloc.

On Tuesday British PM David Cameron told the other 27 leaders that trade and security co-operation would be vital whatever the future links, BBC reports.

Germany's Angela Merkel urged the EU to "respect the result" of the UK vote.

But she and other leaders renewed their call for Britain to set out plans for leaving as soon as possible.

They insist there can be no negotiation before the UK has formally invoked Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which will trigger the withdrawal talks.